Replacement segment for worn footwear



June 14, 1955 I LISKA v 2,710,463 I REPLACEMENT SEGMENT FOR WORN FOOTWEAR I Filed Aug. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 1 ,5 uvmvrox 4 Ernest L z's/ia,

ATTORNEYS.

E. LISKA REPLACEMENT SEGMENT FOR WORN FOOTWEAR June 14, 1955 Filed Aug. '17, 1953 ZSheefs-Sheet 2- 33 3B 33 .Z-YGE .9

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' 11v TOR. ,E'rzzesi 'slia, By Pawn P A TTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofiice 2,710,463 Patented June 14, 1955 REPLACEMENT SEGMENT FOR WORN FOOTWEAR Ernest Liska, Woodbury, N. J. Application August 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,797

4 Claims. (Cl. 36-715) This invention relates to a replacement segment for rebuilding Worn portions of the treads of footwear such as shoes and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to replacement cleats or wedges constructed and arranged for adhesion to worn portions of the soles or heels of footwear.

The prior art discloses replacement segments of various types, such segments sometimes being made of rubber and being affixed to the sole or heel of the shoe. Ordinarily such replacement segments have been aifixed to the shoe by means of nails, but after extended use the edges of the replacement segments have become worn and have tended to separate from the heel or sole.

While efforts have been made to secure replacement segments to worn out soles or heels by adhesion, this expedient has not as yet met with any substantial commercial success, partly because of adhesive failures. Notwithstanding the development of improved adhesives, the problem of obtaining good adhesion over extended periods of use has remained.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a replacement segment for worn footwear tread surfaces. Another object is to provide a replacement segment which may be secured by means of adhesive to the wearing surface of the sole or heat of a shoe. s

I have determined that it is of substantial importance in obtaining long-lasting adhesion to provide a replacement segment with an upper surface of specific curvature which corresponds very closely to the curvature of the worn heel or sole portion to which it is to be attached.

When the adjacent adhered surfaces have substantial identical curvatures they are not only more firmly secured together at the outset, but also are lesss'ubj'e'ct to failure in the course of their use.

J Upon examining large numbers of worn out. heels or soles, I have determined that the worn surfaces have various shapes. Most of the worn surfaces are curved, but occasionally some of them havesubstantially flat portions in part at least Moreover the extent of the curvature varies widely. I

It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide a standard replacement segment for worn out soles or heels which may be universally applied to worn footwear having worn surfaces of various shapes and types. Other objects and advantages of this invention will further appear hereinafter and in the drawings, whereof:

Fig. 1 represents a view in perspective showing the sole and heel portions of a worn shoe, illustrating typical worn portions on the heel and sole.

Fig. 2 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, with replacement segments applied to the worn areas in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 3 represents a view in perspective of the sole and side Wall surfaces of a replacement segment constituting one specific embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 4 represents a view in perspective similar to Fig. 3, showing another embodiment of this invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent sectional views taken as indicated by the lines and arrows V--V and VI-VI which appear in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively.

Figs. 7 and 8 represent sectional views similar to Figs. 5 and 6, showing modified replacement segments.

Fig. 9 represents a sectional view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows IX-IX which appear in Fig. 2, showing how the replacement segment is adhered to a substantially level worn out portion of a shoe heel; and

Figs. 10-12 represent sectional views similar to Fig. 9, showing how replacement segments in accordance with this invention may be adhered to wornout shoe heels having worn surfaces of various curvatures.

Turning now to the specific embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a shoe having a sole 21 with worn portions 22, 23. The shoe 20 has a conventional heel 24 having a worn portion 25.

As'shown in Fig. 1, the worn portions 22, 23 and 25 are substantially flat, having little if any curvature. However it is to be appreciated that these worn portions may have curvatures of various types and degrees.

Fig. 2 shows the shoe 20 provided at its side edge with a replacement cleat 26, at its front edge with a replace ment cleat 26, and at its heel with a replacement wedge 28, the cleats and wedges being afiixed to the shoe by means of an adhesive as will appear hereinafter. The

wedges and cleats are both generally wedge-shaped, and are referred to hereinafter generically as wedges.

Fig. 3 shows the replacement wedge 28, which in accordance with this invention consists of relatively stiff,

-thick material such as sole rubber, leather, synthetic The replacement resinous sole materials or the like. wedge 28 has a sole surface 30 constituting its wearing face, and has a side wall surface 31 which is a plane surface curved in accordance with the usual curvature of the side Wall of the shoe heel. Formed in the bottom.

surface 30 is an elongated-groove or channel 32 which preferably has a curvature corresponding to the curv aa ture of side wall 31. Preferably the groove 32 is. closely. parallel thereto. The groove adjacent to side wall 31 and 32 extendsinto the replacement segment to a substantial depth, sayabout one-quarter-to about three-quarters the thickness of the replacement segment. I

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the wearing surface 30 is also provided with an inner groove orchannel 33 which is wardly from channel 32.

completely through the replacement segment 28.

it will be observed that the replacement segment ZSI is in the form of a wedge, the inner edge of which includes a forward convex portion 34, a rear convex portion 35, and an intermediate concave portion 36.

The replacement cleat 26 shown in Fig. 4 is generally similar to the replacement Wedge 28 just described, but it is somewhat smaller and its inner edge has a different shape.

parallel to and spaced in- Groove 33 also has a curvature corresponding to the curvature of side Wall 31. It is preferably of less length than groove 32, and alsoof less depth; Like groove 32, groove 33 preferably does not penetrate As shown inFig. 4, the inner edge includes straight forward portions 40, 41 disposed at an angle to one another, straight rear portions 42, 43 disposed at an angle to one another, and'an intermediate concave curved accordance with this invention are preferably generally parabolic in cross section, said section lying in a plane taken substantially perpendicular to the side wall 31, although the curvature need not of course correspond precisely to the specific geometry of a parabola.

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a pair of spaced apart grooves 50, 51 are formed in the face 45 which is to be adhered to the worn heel or sole portion. Such grooves are substantially identical to the grooves 32, 33. As shown in Fig. 7, groove 50 is located outwardly of groove 32, while groove 51 is intermediate the grooves 32, 33.

Fig. 8 shows another modified form of replacement segment wherein the face 45 is provided with one or more cylindrical holes 52. When a plurality of such holes 52 are provided, they are spaced apart from one another along a line parallel to the curvature of side Wall 31. As shown in Fig. 8, the hole 52 is disposed intermediate the grooves 32, 33.

It will accordingly be apparent that the grooves 32, 33 as well as the grooves 50, 51 and holes 52 materially reduce the cross sectional area of the replacement segment along lines substantially parallel to its side wall 31. Thus the segment is flexible along lines parallel to its side wall whereby the curvature of the generally parabolic face 45 may readily be varied by flexing the segment in the plane transverse to the curvature of the curved face 45. Thus, the replacement segments are readily adaptable to worn surfaces of various curvatures, even at points immediately adjacent their side walls where the segments are of greatest thickness. This is an important and advantageous feature of this invention.

Figs. 9-12 illustrate how a standard replacement segment 28 is adapted to be deformed to provide a precise fit with'worn heel or sole portions of various curvatures. Fig. 9 shows how the segment 28, with its normally generally parabolic face 45, may be applied against a substantially fiat surface 25 in which case the sole surface 30 becomes slightly concave and the grooves 32, 33 are narrowed thereby providing intimate contact between the surfaces 45, 25 through the adhesive layer 62. In Fig. 10 the surface 45 has a slight curvature and the grooves 32, 33 are somewhat wider. In Fig. 11 the curvature of surface 45 is substantially greater and the grooves 32, 33 are further widened. In Fig. 12 the face 45 has a much more exaggerated curvature, particularly in the portion immediately adjacent the side wall 31. The notches 32, 33 are wide open and the wearing face 30 is slightly convex.

In all the structures shown in Figs. 9-12 the replacement segment face 45 conforms to the worn surface of the heel or sole, and is intimately bonded thereto by the adhesive layer 62. Moreover, the flexibility of the replacement segment minimizes residual stresses resulting from the deformation of the replacement segment. Such residual stresses are undesirable since it is their tendency to act in opposition to the adhesive forces of the adhesive layer, and to cause the replacement segment to pull away from the heel or sole.

It will be appreciated that the grooves 32 and 33, in addition to their other functions as just described, serve in actual use as traction members for the heels or soles, providing a better grip in walking on floors or other surfaces.

It will also be appreciated that the grooves 50, 51 and holes 52 create a suction between the heel or sole and the attached replacement segment, thereby strengthening the adhesive bond between them.

While I have shown slots as one form of indentation in the replacement segment, it will be appreciated that other specific forms of indentations may be substituted for slots in accordance with this invention, provided such indentations are arranged adjacent the side wall of the segment rendering the relatively thick portions of the replacement segment fiexible to the extent that they may be bent or deformed to the contour of the Worn edge of a heel or sole.

While I have selected several specific embodiments of the invention for illustration in the drawings, it will be appreciated that equivalent elements may be substituted for the features specifically discussed above, without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, certain of the parts may be reversed and certain features of the invention may be used independently of other features, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A replacement segment for the worn edge of a shoe comprising a piece of bendable material having a substantially parabolic surface, a substantially flat wearing surface, a curved thick side wall substantially perpendicu' lar to said wearing surface, said side wall connecting said parabolic and wearing surfaces, and said segment having a groove extending substantially one-half the thickness of the side wall and substantially parallel thereto, said groove being of sufficient depth to provide flexibility adjacent said side wall to allow the thick part of the segment to conform to the surface of a worn shoe to which it is to be affixed, said substantially parabolic surface having its substantially parabolic curvature in a plane extending approximately perpendicular to said side wall.

2. The replacement segment defined in claim 1 wherein another groove is formed in said segment substantially parallel to said side Wall, one such groove extending into the wearing surface and the other such groove extending into the parabolic surface.

3. The replacement segment defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said grooves is provided, a pair of said grooves being formed in said wearing surface and another pair of grooves being formed in said parabolic surface, all said grooves being substantially parallel to one another and said pairs being staggered in relation to one another.

4. The replacement segment defined in claim 1 where in a hole is formed in said segment substantially opposite said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 

